Encounters in the Republic of Heaven

Encounters is an 8-channel sound-surround piece based on speaking voices recorded in the North East of England
where Trevor Wishart was A.C.E.Composer-in-Residence from October 1st, 2006 to September 2009, based at the University of Durham.
The piece is constructed in 4 Acts of approximately 20 minutes each, combining portraits of individual speakers (accompanied by
sounds and imaginary instruments derived from the voices themselves) with computer animation of the entire community of voices -
speech that waltzes, speech that locks in harmony, clouds of speech that circle the audience, culminating with speech that transforms into song.
The piece was finally completed on January 1st 2011. Recordings are available.